Fruit orienting device



Sept 25, 1951 E. w. cARRoLl.

FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE 10 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June lO, 1949 NNN Sept.25, 1951 E W, CARROLL 2,568,947

FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE Filed June l0, 1949 y 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

Sept. 25, 1951 E, W. CARROLL 2,568,947

FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE Filed June lO, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 25,1951 E, Wl CARROLL 2,568,947

I FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 1M @alM1115 :i a! 8f 'I s! q 91 30 90 $1 4 30 -91 INVENToR.

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FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE` Filed June lO, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 mwgmumia\f; 29 yur N 145 *willi/M," f' y I N VEN TOR.

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differ/2 Sept. 25, 1951 E W, CARROLL 2,568,947

FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE Filed June l0, 1949 lO Sheets-Sheet 6 V i200 165d 2/ 7 zal l ,20j

Sept. 25, 1951 E, W CARROLL 2,568,947

FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE' Filed June 1o, 1949 1o Smets-sheet 7 L, 17.9 17aj, 174/ I ll 1&9) 16) gl if INVENToR. Zzswaen/ h( oa Sept 25, 1951 E. W.CARROLL FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE Filed Juri@ 1o,

lO Sheets-Sheet 8 Sept. 25, 1951 E, w, CARROLL FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE 10Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June lO, 1949 IN VEN TOR. [uswoen/ Maeeoa SCPL25,1951 E. w. CARROLL 2,568,947

l FRUIT ORIENTING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 IN VENTOR. s waff# M 634,02@ L atentcl' Shept. 2s; 195i UNITED vSTATES PATENTQFFICE FRUIT ORIEN'r'iNG DEVICE Eilsworthvw. Carroll, Redwood City.Calif., as'- signor to S & W Fine Foods, Inc., San Fran?. cisco, Calif.,a. corporation of California Application Juno 1o, 1949, serial No.98,260' Y f vularly the invention relates to apparatus for feeding, fororientating as to indent, and for orientating as to seam or suture.

1. To automatically adjust fruit carriages on the machine to a sizerelated to the size of the peach in the individual carriages.

2. To rotate the peach with relation to and in contact with anorientation member shaped to enter the stem indent of the peach whenregistry of stem indent and said member occurs, and to change the planeof rotation of the fruit to increase the probability of registry ofindent and orientation member.

3. To orientate the fruit with relation to the seam or suture thereonafter said member and indent have been registered.

4. To inspect therfruit after the orientation operation and to discardsuch `fruits as are .not properly orientated, both as to indent andseam.

5. To saw the properly orientated fruit in half with the plane of thesaw passing through the indent and the seam plane.

6. To cut out the half pits from each fruit half.

In the machine described herein all of the above steps are synchronized,so that a continuous flow of fruit is passed through the machine.

Certain aspects of the orientation portion of the machine of the presentinvention have been shown, described and claimed in my co-pendingapplication, filed September 25, 1947, Serial Number 776,058, of whichthe present application is a continuation-in-part.

Among the objects of the present invention are: To provide a machinecoordinated to receive an orderly succession of fruit such as peachesand to automatically feed the fruit in heterogeneous positions into theinput of the machine in timely relation to fruit carriages adapted tomaintain the fruit in a position to be further operated on duringpassage through the machine;

To provide a means and method of gaging the fruit as to size as itenters the machine and to vvautomatically adjust the size of the fruitcarriages l .indents of the fruit orientatedwith the indent in i itclaims. (ci. 19e-:rcA

a predetermined position are' subjected to ari operation -by a memberdesigned to enter thev indent to the fullest extent, and While saidoperation' is L being conducted, to provide means for moving the indentfitting member in a manner tending to alignrthe seam plane in a desiredposition;

To provide a single, synchronized machine for accomplishing all oftheabovev objects in coordinated sequential relation. with the peachesflowing continually through the machine;

To provide a relatively simple automatic'v peachhandle either graded for-s'ize or ungraded fruit;

and Y To provide these land other" objects ofthe invention as will beapparent from 'the'perusalj of the accompanying description of oneApreferred form of the invention asVv shown vin the drawings in which: f

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the general relationship of thevarious features `of -the machine. Figure 2 is a side elevational Viewof the machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view partly in section,illustrati`ng l a loading featureof the aforementioned machine. Figure Llis a side elevational view ofthe loading feature of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a fragmentary Viewillustrating a detail of the loading feature of Figures 3 and 4. Figure6 is a vertical sectional view of the indent orientation stage taken asindicated Iby the line 6-6 in Figure 2. j

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a portion ofthe indent orientation stageshown in Figure 6.

Figure A8 is a side view taken as indicated Yby line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 8a is a cross-sectional View of a portion .of an orientationwheel. Y

Figure 9 is a vertical view partly in section and partly in elevation ofa seam orientation mechanism, taken as indicated byline 9--9 in Figure2.

' Figure 10 is a side view of the seam orientation "mechanism shown inFigure 9, taken fas 'indicated byline I U-l 0 in Figure 9. I, y v

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view takenas Figure 1,2 is a fragmentarytop plan view, taken as indicated by arrow l2 in Figure 10,..

' described.

Figure 18 is a vertical View partly in section and partly in elevationof a sawing and pitting mechanism, taken as indicated byline |8=|8 inFigure 2.

Figure 19 is a top planfview offa pitting blade used in the device shownin Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a vertical sectional Yviewfthrough the gear box of themachine',` taken as'indi'c'ated by line 20--20 in FigureZ.

Figure 21 is a side v iew taken as indicated by Figure 21a isagsidewiew-,talgen asindicated 'by line `21a-,Zia in Figure 20.

Figure 22 a side view of a modiiied form of fruit carriage,construction.

Figure, 23. isa; planifiew taken. as indicated by arrow 23 in Figure 22.

-Main elements andnstages ofJ the machine Before ehteringinto adescription of the details of thebvarious mechanisms utilized in thevarious stages of the cmpletenrnachine'shown in the drawings, themainelements thereof as vparticularly shownA Vin'FigrllIes 1 Avand 2 willfirst -be The machine illustrated is of the endlesscarrier type inwhichav pluralityof fruit carriages are. Co'htinie'sly. @mattered over.'a framewported'on framevlegsz.` The frame cmipiriscsv @n.llpperlchainbar 5 Y and allower chain bar B tiedtogether byend tl to the ground.Alevel, as best showrrn VwFigure 18.

.Ajt the ends, threfaf #achetait bar 91112 .away to receive anidlergsproclet 8 at the front end A'dof the machine, andV to receiveadrivelsprocket ,8 at the, wetend., .these iserckets being ipitioned toguide an endless roller chaindll) yin a position toride along`theto1:hedge of each'upper chain bar '5, .adfallsifile totim .edge ef,eahfof the flowerv chain bars 6.v The twoL drivesproclets 9 are'diven'fro'n' 'al' gearn boi; l {,vwhich isA supplied with power fromelectric motor f2 through belt 'plurality of fruit,"` holding`-carriages' are `formed from opposed" carriage `halves"ppos'itelyL"positioned on and' Lattafched at uniform* intervals to the rollerchains I0, and progressed by them 'along the chainbars;

The carriage halves aren separatedas-`they-pass `along thelower-chain-plate 6-and thenerise to approach each other asaloadingstage'I-A is reached priory to.progressingY horizontallyralongthe top of the upper chainbars 5. The-stages are best Lshown nFigure 2.

At the loading stage I--A thev fruit isloaded in proper sequenceinto thefruit carriagesnformed by. the opposite carriage halves nowv in position'to' retain the fruit,y and if the fruit'being processed isungra'dedfafrui't carriage si'aing/ineans is operated as ,the` fruit isloadedinto' thecar- 5' rlage. This stage willlater be describedindetail.

After, a peachisloadedjinto a"carriag'el the carriages are progressed-toenter` into ali-indent orientation's'tage xtendingvfromA-to Bfinwhichthe fruit are revolved by frictional contact with power driven wheelsmounted on a sub-conveyor, so that during the orientation stage thefruit will be rotated at all times except when a Wheel registers withthe stem indent. This registry prevents further driving contact with thefruit so that the fruit stops rotating, with the indent down. During'thepassagefoffruit through stage A-B the orientation-wheels are changed inrotational plane, preferably rapidly, to increase the Jiprobability ofindent registry with the Wheel.

Afterthe wheels are removed from beneath the fruit by termination of thesub-conveyory the car- Y riages `pass through a seam orientation stageB-C. l-Whilefthe fruit is in this stage a member vhaving'fan-inde'nttting head is applied to the fruit VAfrombelow and travels with thefruit, oscillating meanwhile to settle the fruit to its deepest frextent on the head and thereby orientate the fruit as to seam or s'utureplane. As the car- .riages pass out of the seamorientation-stage fupperend thereof sensing the shape of the-indent. If thefeeler-is-,notyoperated dueto lan improperly orientated indentbeing-fpresented to it, or dueto no indent at all Abeingenteredthe fruitisraised by the pilot, andmeanseare; provided to remove the peach fromthe carriage-and from the machine. Assuming that thefinspection hasfound. ay properlyorientated fruit tolbe present in the carriage, thefruit iscarried-next toa halving stage D-E, the positionsensingpilotreturningv tok Vinspect the fruit in a 'following carriage. Y i,

` As the fruit enters the halvingstage D,-E, the halvesof the carriageare; released sothat-g the peach is gripp'edJoy the carriageV halves,anda rotating circularA saw cuts :through the-vertical centralplane of theVpeach as the carriageprogresses. When the peaches areproperlyporientated; the cut isi made through the; tip-indent axisandzfin the-plane of-,the seam,-thuspr'ovid ing substantially `identicalfruit: halves.

At the end 'of .the halving stage D-E,l thercut surfaces of the peachare close together; and vertical. The peach` halvesnare then passed intoa 'peach halfffiseparation and turning' stage `Ei-F,

in which the fruit halves` are WidelysepamtedL but are still progressedby the individual carriage halves to a position in`whichthe cut'surfacesv of i theffruithalves are` horizontal andnfacing Y downwardlyf`AThefruit halves then passV through aV pittingV stag'exF-G, duringwhich; thefoutout peach pitr 'portions'arey removedl fromrthe half anddischarged; Thefpitted-halris then-separatelyiidischargedand thecarriage. halveslthen 'return'along a return stage Ge-I to riseagainrandFruit carriages vThe details of one form -of adjustablef carriages areIshown in Figures l; 2, 4; 9', '14;and 18. Eacl'i'carriage' comprises vaApair' oflcarriage -lralves Z- attached to chainsl "opposite eacliother.Each carriage half 20 comprises''aat carriage plate/2| attached-'atrione-Lend-to roller: chain l0 to` slide .over-upper andwlowerv 'chain.bars fonithe as to indent.

loutside edges thereof. At the other end ofthe carriage plate 2 I, acentral ribbed arm 22'extends upwardly from a pivot pin 24 on carriageplate 2| to terminate in a V-shaped pairlof fruit restrainingngers 25extendingV substantially horizontally when the carriage base plate 2| ison an upper chain bar. Also extending upwardly from the bottom ofcarriage plate 2| isa solid arm 26 terminating in an enlarged end 21from which a locking screw 29 is extended horizontally fore r and aft topass through an arcuate slot v3|) in central ribbed arm 22. Lockingscrew 29 has a threaded end screwed into enlarged end 21Vof and carriageplate 2|, and held in place ,by a plate boss 35 and a lever boss 36,causes the ribbed arm 22 to be rmly locked to the solid arm 26. The

` threads on screw 29 are' coarse, so -thata very slight downwardmovement of the end of locking lever 32 will unlock ribbed arm 22. Whenpressure on lever 32 is released, spring 35 will relock the ribbed arm22. The weight of the fruit is such that when the ribbed arm isunlocked, the arm and fingers will fall toward the carriage plate bygravity. When two half carriages are opposed to hold a fruittherebetween, the width of the space between the opposed finger pairscan v be changed, and the arms locked in any position desired. Thus,fruit differing materially in size vvcan be accommodate between opposedfinger pairs, with proper spacing so that fruit between the linger pairscan be freely revolved.

The space between finger pairs 25 during passage of the fruit along themachine will be termed a fruit restraining space 31' The restraint ofthe fruit from belowv is provided by a base plate 39 extended from eachcarriage plate 2| toward the vertical longitudinal central plane of themachineA VP. AThese base plates 39 are substantially horizontallypositioned beneath finger pairs 25 and are centrally provided withcentral cut out portions 40 forjthe insertion of various devices frombelow into the restraint space 31 above opposed base plates.

As will be seen later, the control ofthe size of Athe restraint space 31between carriage halves can be made automatic, either for running gradedpeaches where the restraint space is kept uniform in size except for agripping ofthe peach just prior to sawing; or for running ungradedpeaches where the position of the finger pairs in each carriage half ofa carriage assembly is individually changed to provide the proper sizeof restraint space for free revolution of a peach being loaded into theparticular restraint space.

Loading stage I-A vto star wheel 46 is a ratchet 49 having eight teeth56 thereon. The star wheel 46 has four pockets 5| and is placed at theend of a sloping feed chute 52 in which the'pea'ches to b-e run arestacked, the chute being fed from a hopper (not shown) with the fruit inheterogeneous positions 'The star wheel 46 is rotated by'recprocatiii ofa pawl lever 54 having a pawl 55 mounted thereon engaging teeth 50 onthe ratchet 49.

Lever 54 is reciprocated through rod 53 by crank 56 (Fig-ure 2) mountedonthe end of a lower longitudinal shaft 51 extending forward from gearbox at twice machine cycle speed so that a peach rolling from feed chute52 into a star wheel y 'pocket 5| will be rotated first, one eighth of arevolution to a position in contact with an upper dish-ed roller 59mounted on a swinging roller arm 60 attached to the top of upright 45,this position being shown in Figure 5, and then by another eighthrevolution to a position where the ,fruit will drop by gravity from thestar wheel 46 A,intothe restraint space 31 formed by the opposed Yzontal path on the machine frame.

nger pairs 25 on carriage halves 20 coming vup on the chains I0 toV thebeginning of the ,hori- As the carriage halves 20 rise vertically atlthe input end of the machine, these halves are preferably automaticallyand individually adjusted for the size peach being loaded when ungradedfruit is being processed.

These carriage halves are first unlocked bya loading cam 6| positionedon each side of the input end of the machine bearing against lockinglevers 32 on each carriage half shown in Figures l and 2. The carriagehalves are held unlocked by the loading cam as they rise toward theloading location. As pointed out in the prior description of thecarriage halves 26, the restraining `finger pairs 25 on each lcarriagehalf will fall toward each other by gravity when the ribbed minimumspacing between opposed finger pairs. As the carriage halves 2l] rise,in unlockedcondition, they are opened to a maximum extent by a fixedopening cam 63.

Just prior to the loading position the distance between finger pairs iscontrolled by the position of a pair of opposite adjusting cams 62 whichbegin as opening cams -63 end. Each cam 62 is positioned to bear againsta lower and inner surface of a ribbed arm 22 on a carriage-half afterthe ribbed arms leave the opening cams 63. Both adjusting cams 62 aresupported by a cam lever 64 pivoted on pin 65 on the lower portion ofupright 45. The ribbed arms 22 of the carriage halves, it has been seen,are not vertical, .but slope upwardly toward the central vertical planeVP of the machine and when released, by opening cams 63, come to rest onadjusting cams 62. The vertical position of adjusting cams 62 isdetermined by a rod connection 66 between cam lever 64 and dished rollerarm 60.

As the dished roller arm 60 is lifted to pass over a peach rotated bystar wheel 46, this arm 6|), through rod connection 66 and cam lever64lifts adjusting cams 62 which in turn position the opposed finger pairs25 on the carriage halves as they leave the opening cams 63 the properdistance apart for the size of the peach about to be loaded. As thecarriage halves are about to leave adjusting cams 62, the loading cams6| (Figures 1 and 2) terminate, and the springs 34 on the -tioning screw61 to hold the adjusting camsi 7 .f. in asconstant nxed .positionas;determined;y by the average sizel of 1the peaches being processed.-For -ungraded peaches positioning screw 61 can be set to holdtherestraint space to a.:p redetermined ...minimum, or removed, ifdesired. Thus, the ca r- .riages can allv be adjusted to have the'sarnere- .strair1ing space, 'or can be individually adjusted'.aas-.tarestraint space-in accordancewith the size of the peachbeing-loaded. It willthus be seen that 4the peaches have been loaded inthe car.

.5 riages with the indents andv sutures of the'fruit in ,heterogeneouspositions.

indentv orientation' stage A-B Y. i :Afterthe kpeaches have been'loaded' into theil .carriages4 and .therestraintspaces-they passdifilrectly into anI indent o'rientationstage,` theL de- -ltails ofwhich-are shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, `and 8a. This stage takes up fourcarriage lengths on .In thisV indent orientationstagef `a-1subcon'fveyor frame 1|!` isv supported 4from the' yupper chain bar .5 .bysubconveyor frame brackets'ljl through lower adjustment screws 12 thatcan bechanged in llength toadjust the height of the subconveyor j;

wframe, asshown in Figure V6.- Thisvfranie com- ..prises twovertical-U-shaped side channels 14 and 15 facingeach other to form asupport for la cam track-block 1liA extending :horizontally "across the4machine between andjoining the*- 'chanriels 14land 15 and slightlybelow the top off-these channels.-v An endless fsubconveyor chain'11progresses around the cam trackblock 'I6 above and below this fblock,thisv chain being mounted on endsprockets 11aifastenedpn'frontx. andrear across shafts .19- and 80, respectively.

-stance apart,l and areY arranged onfthesub-v 'conveyor chainf 11 totravel centrally vbeneath lthecarriages as they progress along-thehorizontal path of the carrier.

Eachwheel block 8| supports a'rwheel-'fpivot 94 extending upwardly whenthe blocks are-'on the upper sideof the cam track block 16,- this Ipivot 84 extending through the wheel block to join-.a rollerarm 85having a ldownwardly projecting roller 86 onthe end thereon-Each rollerts andv rides in a cam vtrack81y grooved'into `the upper surface of thecam track block 16 and extending the full `length thereof, wthflseveral=changes of direction, as will be later'vdescribed. y The'upper end ofeach wheel pivot84 is forked v and is crossed `at the end thereofby'la.'Vwhe'el:pinv

9|1'on` which an orientation wheel 9|isimounted .in section in Figure8a. Y 4Theperipheryof each orientation wheel,9| is 1 .sloped toward thecentralplanelof the awheel, and one side of the Wheel isprovidedxwith'bevel f gear teeth .92 cut'thereon, these;teeth attrtheirouter ends conforming tothe slope-of ythewheel '.sides.

At one side of the wheels 9|,.parallel..to.their direction of movementwhen on top Aof-cam track block 16 is positioned a pinion wire 94 havinglongitudinaly teeth 95 thereon. Thisvpinzion wire 9.4 is journalled inend `bearings-:96a-fand i. is positioned justY below thebase platesfofVthe,

:.oarrlagehalvesonone sideofthe machine, with the-gpiniomwire axisnthesame'level as'that ...of -theapex of the orientation wheels 9|.

. Pinion wire 94-is. rotated by a pinion wire chain 91: engaging a..pinion wire sprocket 99 f positioned at the-forward end of the pinionwire.

The pinion Wire chain 91- extends downwardly A to-.passzaround a-shaftsprocket-99 on longitu- -.dinal.shaft 51' which drives the crank 56 forio:

rotation of star wheel 46 (see Figure 2).

lAs-:shown in Figure 6, the subconveyor chain 11 is-driven by pins |00,-extending downwardlyfrom the' main roller chain. I0 on the side of themaigchineopposite they pinion wire, these pins |66fbeirigvproperlyspaced on-chain l0 `to engage Aeach wheel'blockflandprogress the wheel 'blocks along on .the subconveyor at the same rateof -.-.speedv as -theV carriages.

-l AsA the carriages progresa, and enterthe @the conveyor. vii-0forientationystage A-B, the orientation wheels 9| rise .atthe-.-.beginning of the subconveyor frame; and. enter the spaces.between the carriagef base plates 39 in the cutouts 4U therein lprovidedand :project into the restraint spaces wheels-9| reach-the verticalplane, the cam rollers enter the-cam track 81 which,.through thein-.Which the fruit is held. As the orientation .roller arms 85connectedto the wheel pivots 84 control the vertical plane positions ofthe orientation wheels. e The, cam track, as the rollers 86 enter it, is

provided with an` entrance flare |0| to facilitate entrance of therollers. --Arms 85 extend outward- Y ly--from pivots 84 in the plane ofthe wheel.

. As therollers enter the track, the rollers trail with the wheels. inthe .central vertical plane VP of the machine. The cam track 81-1thenymoves-to one side-of the cam track block 16 in a position wherethe'teeth. 92 on each wheel are forced into engagement with the.longitudinal -.teeth 95 .on the pinion wire 94 which is con- '.stantlyrotating. This engagement causes the A.wheels to rotate in a verticalplane to the Vcentral vertical plane of the machine.` The rfruit,resting .on a wheel is thereby rotated unless'and until a-wheel entersthe stem indent ofthe fruit. At this time rotation of the fruitwill.cease,reven though the wheel on which the fruit isresting is stillrotating, as the fruit will belowered by this registry of wheel andindent and at-least part of the weight of the fruit will lbe taken bythe base plates 39 on each side of thewheel.

In any event, as the carriages, fruit, and wheels. progress, thecam-track 81 isA changed in -direction on the cam track block 16 and ismoved'over to the other side of cam track .block 16... The rollers,trailing in the cam track, follow the direction change thereof, and flipthe wheels into a new vertical plane away from their former-positionsinto a position where the wheel teeth 92 vagain engage the pinion wire.teethv95, butontheopposite side of the orientaj tion wheel. The wheelthen rotates in the op- 'povsite direction.l This rapid change in: thevertical rotation plane of the wheels, with diw,rectionfreversal,greatly increases the probability of Vthe indent of a fruit registeringwith the orientation Wheel. In the preferred example shown, several.wheel plane changes are made .while the'wheels are projecting into therestraint f=-spacef31-between the carriage halves.

In `this ,asamepreferred' example, the wheel is about 1% inches in.diameter,

1A inch thick near the periphery, and is rotated about 260 R. P.,M. by

the pinion wire `when .the carriages are being progressed at a rate of60 per minute past a given point.

As some of the peaches may have their indents comefto a registry with aWheel at the very beginning of the orientation stage, subsequent Wheelplane shifts also aid in seam orientation, particularly with respect tothose fruits whose indents are of proper size'to t the wheel so that asubstantial weight of the peach still rests on the base plates, but theindent fits the wheel after wheel and indent registry occur close enoughto turn the fruit in the VP. The inertia of the peach permits the wheelsto shift their 'plane without always moving the peach and during thisrelative movement of wheel and indent, the wheel plane and seam planemay coincide. When this happens, the peach settles stillfurther on thewheel, so that the wheel plane' and seam plane substantially coincide asthe wheel will penetrate to its maximum extent when such coincidenceoccurs. For this reason, it is preferred that the cam track 81 be endedwith a short end section |02 which places the wheel plane in the centralvertical plane VP of the machine as the wheels leave the carriages.

At the end of the indent orientation stage A-B the majority of the fruitwill be properly orientated with the indent down. However, as not all ofthe fruit will be orientated as to seam or suture with the suture planecoinciding with the central vertical plane VP of the machine, it isdesirable to pass the fruit through a seam orientation stage B-C. i

Seam orientation stage B-C The seam orientation stage B-C` operates toorientate peaches that enter the stage with their indents down, into aposition where the seam or suture plane through the fruit liessubstantially in the central vertical plane VP of the machine.

In making this seam plane orientation, full advantage is taken of thefact that the stem indent is longer in the plane of the seam than it isin any other plane, so that an elongated member shaped to enter the stemindent to its full depth when registered with the seam plane and withsubstantially all of the weight of the peach thereon will not enter theindent to the same depth inA any other plane. Advantage is also taken ofthe fact that such an indent tting member, once having been entered intothe indent to the fullest extent possible, tends to stay there whenrotated, whereas when such a member is rotated with respect to a peachindent in any other relationship thereto than full penetration, relativerotation of the peach and member can take place. Thus by presenting anelongated indent member generally tting the indents of peaches ofthemember in a predetermined position with y Y.

respect `to the machine and withdrawing the member, the peach will beleft in the machine with the indentl down and with the seam plane inthepredetermined position desired.

-In Figures 9, 10, 11, 12,.and 13, a seam orientation mechanism is shownin detail for orientating the peaches passing through the machine toplace their seam planes in the central vertical plane VP of the machine.This stage takes up three carriage lengths on the machine.

Referring rst to Figures 9 and 1I), a seam orientation block |05 ismounted to slide centrally andlongitudinally of the machine below andbetween carriage halves, being reciprocated over a horizontal pathcovering 12/3 carriage length by a horizontal reciprocation rod |06(Figure 12) operated from the 1A? time shaft 25|, as will be laterdescribed, through rod pin |01 attached to the rear end 'of orientationblock |05. Laterally and vertically, the orientation block |05 ismaintained in position by guides |09 entering grooves I I 0 in theorientation block |05, the guides |09 being bolted to opposite upperchain bars 5'of the machine, asbest shown inA Figure 9. Y.

The orientation vblock1I05 is reciprocated'along the machine at carriagespeed, with a quick return at the end'of the path so that the fruit intwo carriages can be simultaneously operated on for seam orientationjust after the fruit hasV left the indent orientation stage A-B.

A pairv of longitudinally spaced rodboss'es, a front boss III and a rearboss IIZ, 'project upwardly and centrallyfrom orientationr block V|05and each boss andthe block is bored to receive and journalavertical-seam rod I|l| extending' through the block to terminate wellbelow it;

Between the lower vprojections'of seam rods" seam rods IIII; Immediatelyabove lugs ||9 each seam rod IIII is provided with a pinned washer |20,and immediately below eahiug |19, each seam rod is provided with a smallsprocket I2| pinned to each seamrodilrl, these sprockets being connectedby Va sprocket chain |22.

Thus both seam rods I I4 will be vertically reciprocated in theorientation block |05 by vertical reciprocation of vertical slide IIB byslide lever II1. Also as both seam rods are 'connected' together bychain |22, any' rotation 'imparted to Y one seam rod will cause theother 'seam rod to rotate as well. 1 y l A When slide IIB is in'itslowest position the upper ends of seamrods' II4 are close to the top ofbosses ||I r and I I2 'and each seam rod isV provided with an upperindenttting, tip IZVII.l

This tip |24, best shown in- Figures 9, 10, and

12, has a roughlydiarnond shaped base |25 elongated in one dimension,with 'sides |26 slanting upwardly to a central cut out |21 which ispres# ent so that if a small portion of a peach stem |29 (Figure 9)remains in the4 bottom of an indent this 'small piece Vof Vstern willenter the cut out |21 Aso that it will lnot prevent deep pene'- tationof the tip |24 into the indent. Except for the cut-out 41, the tip I2I|resembles the'indent fitting portion of an orientation wheel 9|,

andthe tip has the same relative dimensions as` the 'indent ttingportion of the wheels 9|, both as to length and thickness.Y

The front and rear .surfaces'gof the indentn iitting tip" |24 also,slope-A upwardly toward the j ascendant of the tip'; issuch".asitoftideeplyfintofa peachi: indentonlyfwhen the elongatedindent: registers: with the `long;'dimensiorr`=oi'.the tip Ain `exactly,the same manneras the tops otwheelsl Iiregisteredf'fwith the indent'rforVseam-orientation in the previous `stagepL-...Xlheni such registry.occurs, the position :ofathe peachL-isrdeterminediby the position'.' ofthe tip, iasunder'i these conditions bothitip'and .peach..will rotatetogether." When not operating onratpeach;findentiditting tips |24are'belowisthe leveloifthe basel-plates 39 ofthe carria'geihalveafsothatfthe orientation. block. |05 can be reciprocatedoinsthe opposite.direction to carriagetitravelz As thecarriageslleavecthe indentorientation; stage 'A2-'B the searnrblockfis timed to 'place theindent.` flttingztips 24 centrally ubeneath; two carriages,.r and after..the seam f :block' motion. is synchronized with the carriage motion,:lathe vertical: slide'l i6 isira'ised:by-.slidel lever. ||1 to raisethe seam rods "H54 soithat'ithe'indentditting.` tips "|24 pass:throughwithe .cut-outs 40f`inf baser, plate'sfrifof'zthe carriage Yhalves, and push upwardlyfagainst, the loweifsurfaceof'the fruit inn thecarriages.- -In mostinstanc'esithe indentfittingtps |24 will contacttheiin'dents ofthe fruit, as the: maiority .of the fruit'will havebeensorien;n tated byzthe' previous -stagezwith the indent down.Thehtius |24 are raisedrfa:'suilicientamount so that i .theyicanpenetratef. tofthe deepest ,f vextent into the' indent :.of'.thenifruitv being. processed* by the machine, i iwiths-the 'weight:of-J the peach'fentirelyiresting on` the tip. .zal

`In order4 that the fruitrbenot `merelyfrolled-I sidewiseAinstherestraintfspace between the fingervv pairscoffthe carriage; :fruitzeentraiizingadevices are Autilized as shown invFigure 92 Twovcentralizing:devieesfare providedfone over each seamrodrwEachffoentralizingz'device consistsrrob-a bracket/| boltedat itslower end to orientation blockfl". dl'hisbracket eXtends-outwardlyibetween'` the chain bars and thenV extends upwardlyz-At about'theaverage level of the tops of peaches in-the carriages,fa-cap lever |34extends :backtoward the central: vertical: plane -VP of the machine,-this lever rbeing :connected `by pivot to' bracket :|30 forrotationVin-a vertical plane;"-lleanthe end of `cone lever. |34 a -horizontalfforlrfli is '.providedythis fork: rotatably supportingF7 ahollow.-.cone. |31 dimensioned to receive'aboutathe top thirdsoffa.-peach. Cone |31 floats, rotateszfreelyand is movablevertically inattache-based, beingiheld'therein by coneshoulder |40 and retaining ring|4|. The centralaxisofcone 1|3|.is maintained-'vertical byallposttioninef;4 rod |42fiournaled. at one end inra central l coneYbaselug |44 and atithe otherend inthe termimisoi' bracketfttl, #the rod4|42 being posi-.- tionediparallel -with cone lever. |34.

The cone |31, restingfon` the peachmaintains the fruit verticalr'whilebeingfvlif-tedbyV a seam rod I4, yetdoes not interfereewithverticalmovementeor'rotationrotthe peachA f The .positionfoffthecone-x|31-overfthe peach is under'fthe controhof;avertical control urod|45 pinned to;` the :'cone* lever-i134' near :the attachment.'y off the.latter 't tobracket |30, :fthe control rod I45..extendin'gl'between thechain bars-to be rotatablyl attachedi-toa liftingf lever |46 pivoted toextension? .|41 'ofcrossmar i113; :One lifting leverv |46ispositionedla't'one slde'off extension' |41, the otherlifting-vleverilbeingpositioned on seam rods` ||4 are raised..

position tozcontact. the lower end of a seam rod.

as shownin Figure 10.

The result of the action of the linkage4 just y above described, .isthat as the two seam rods on to the top of the two fruit being operatedon by the indent fitting `tips |24.

rise to contact the fruit, the two cones arelowered;

When the seam is being returned.

Assuming that the fruit. indentcontacted by an indent'ztting tipis notproperly orientated with the seam planein the plane of the longdimension of the indent vfitting tip, the indent,

fitting tips are oscillated awayfrom and backh to the central verticalplane position in order 51 that the indent fitting tip may find the seamplane and thereby register more deeply with the indent. This oscillationof the indent yfitting, -tips |24 isprovidedfor by the use of a rodpinion |50 mountedxon each seam rod ||4 immedie atelybelow orientation.block |05 and pinned to the seam rods as best shown Figure 10.

Rack brackets |5| are dropped down from one slide |09, these rackbrackets supporting a rack'v 52 having azforward set of teeth |54spaced.

fromeJ rear set of teeth: |55, both sets of these teethbeingpositionedto. mesh lwith rod pinions ,|50 only when vertical slidezlli and the(SeeFigure 13.)

The rack |52 is positioned to intersect `the leading pinion |50 justafter the seam rods have'.

been raised andare travelling. :rearwardly .at the same speed as thecarriageswiththe indent. f1t-v proximatelyfSO" to 809 away-from-thecentral..

The angular rotation of the rod rotationnoffrom 60 to 160. In manyinstances an initial rotation of .about-trwith atotaLrotation of about.or has been found satisfactory.

An opposite intermediate rack |56 held by rack bracket |51 extended-from the opposite upperl chain :ba-r 5-is provided, this rack |56 beingposi--l tioned between front and rearteeth |54 and |55 l respectively,'to engage pinions 50 to rotate the rod and tip in the oppositedirection.

As the leading rod pinion |50 leaves the rearv teethf|55 of-Ithe rackr|52, the trailing pinionl |50 themengages the front teeth-|54 and therotative Aoscillation of the tips Vis repeated, thus providing-threechances` for the tips |24 to registerwith the seamindentwhich have beenfoundv suiflcient to orientate -a 'major proportion lof. the

fruit with'the seamfplaner aligned with the major extentfoffthe indentytips |24. After the trailing pinion-|50 has clearedthe rack- |52, -it=has been foundudesirable to vibratef the yindentsittingftips l|24 toinsuremthe most; exact'regstry possible of tip and indent. This:A

is accomplishedv by supportingA a .stationary vibrationwra'ckllll on theend --of and below the@ levelofwrack |52 inra; position"to engage avibration'block |60 vpinned -to the trailingfseamrod |I4 ust belowtrailing'pinion'lSD, this vibration block l having vibrationl rollersspaced a Jdi'stance'of 3% teethapart thereon,

running overth'e teeth-'Fon vibrationV rack 4159,'

asishown" ini Figure 11,' tol impart .Ian Iescapement type of rapid andshort rocking motions to the 1.

slide ||6 is lowered by slide lever ||1, leaving the peaches againresting on the base plates 39 of the opposed carriage halves. As theindent fitting tips |24 approach the orientation block they areaccurately aligned in the central vertical plane VP of the machine bybeing lowered between two positioning pins |6| on the top of the seamorientation block |05. When indent tting tips |24 have been loweredbelow the level of the base plates 39 of the carriage halves the seamorientation block |05 is rapidly moved forward to repeat the seamorientation cycle on the peaches in the two following carriages. Thestages heretofore described illustrate several phases of the instantinvention. However, in order for the invention to be useful in providingfruit halves of the highest qual-- ity the fruit must be inspected,halved, and pitted inthe proper manner, starting with the inspectionstage C-D.

Inspection stage C-D The inspection stage C-D of the machine is shown indetail in Figures 14 to 1'1, inclusive.

While the seam inspecting devices previously described operates on twopeaches at a time, the fruit can be inspected quickly and accuratelywith a single indent inspection probe mounted to Voperate on the fruitimmediately after the peaches have left the seam orientation stage.

The indent probe |65 is a composite body extending vertically in thecentral vertical plane VP of the machine and mounted for verticalmovement in va probe block |66 which in turn can be reciprocatedhorizontally along the path of the fruit by means of reciprocating powerrod |61 connected to probe block |66 by end connection |68 and operatedfrom the gear box as will be later described. The probe |65 is mountedto be moved along with the fruit carriages at fruit carriage speed withthe probe |65 centrally positioned with respect to the fruit in thecarriages and below the fruit. The movement covers a distance ofapproximately 2A; or 3A of the center to center spacing between twocarriages, allowing the remaining time for the return. The probe block|66 slides for such movement on lateral flanges |69 riding on probeblock guides attached to the upper chain bars 5. Block |66 isreciprocated by the reciprocating power rod |61 from the cyclic shaft250 through i the cam 269 (Figure 21) and parts 210, 21|, 212.

The indent probe |65, as before staged, is composite and comprises amain vertical body member |12 which can slide vertically in a sleeve|16l attached to block |66.

Main body member |12 terminates -upwardly in an indent pilot |15. Thisindent pilot is positioned to extend in the central vertical plane VP ofthe machine, and the pilot is elongated in that plane to t and enter thestem indent of a fruit when this indent is down and is in a positionplacing the seam plane of the fruit substantially in the centralvertical plane VP of the machine. l

Positioned at right angles to the indent pilot |15 and slideably mountedon the top of the main probe body member |12 is a plate-like inspectiontip |16 `having laterally extending `portions |11 sloping upwardly tothe level ofthe top of thecenter of the indent pilot |15 so that fromabove the two tips form a cross having side members sloping downwardlyfrom the center thereof, as"

shown in Figure 17. l

Inspection tip |16, as above stated, is slideably 1 connected to a bellcrank pawl |8| having 'Y its lower end engaging in one position the topof a probe slide |82 vertically movable along the bottom of body member|12 by probe slide rod |84 driven from gear box In another position,pawl |8| is withdrawn into body member 12, and in this latter posi-.tion the probe slide |82, when reciprocated vertically, does not movethe main body member `the probe slide |82 rises.

As the probe block |66 moves forward rapidly toward the input end of themachine, the probe slide |82 holds the indent pilot |15 and theinspection tip |16 below the base plates 39 of the carriage halves. Asthe fruit is carried along by the carriages, the operation of the probeis timed so that it meets a carriage just leaving the seam orientatingstage B--C, andthe probe block |66 starts to move at the same rate ofprogression as that of the fruit and in the same direction. 'At

the same time, the probe slide |82 is raised rapidly, the upper end ofthe probe passing through the cutouts 40 in the base plates v39 of thecarriage halves as shown in Figure 14.

If the fruit in the carriage being probed has the indent thereof downand the seam plane in the vertical central plane VP of thef.machine, asthe probe rises the indent pilot |15 will enter the indent but the topof the inspection tip |16 will contact the sides of the indent. As theprobe continues to rise into the indent, the inspection tip |16 is heldstationary, and the main body member |12 ceases to rise because therelativei movement of the indent pilot |15 and the inspec'- tion tip |16has caused the pawl |8| to be withdrawn into main body member |12. Afterthis happens, the probe slide |82 continues to rise but 7 the proberemains stationary. Thus, when the indent is in the proper position thefruit between the carriage halves is not disturbed, and remains betweenthe carriage halves to be moved to the next stage of the machine.

However, if the indent tting tip contacts the surface of a peach awayfrom the indent, or should enter an indent which is down but which isturned so that the seam plane is not in the l central vertical plane VPof the machine then no contact of the peach will be made with theinspection tip |16. In this case the pawl |8| will remain extended andthe probe continue to rise with the probe slide |82, forcing the fruitupwardly.

The length of the probe is such that at the top ,The ejection devicecomprises.. a. .pantograph 1 The other endof cross lever" However, whenpawl |8| is extended by a light spring |83 to engage the top of probeslide |82, the main body member moves upwardly as 2 5.0mm Si.

frame |85; lpositionedpnf a ,crossfplateLl- -between- .f upperandlowerchain-bars-in a position opposite to that positionwhere a fruitis raisedtojts upper.

limit-by the probesx-This framefl 8,5 is freeto move inwardlyunder thecontrol of a pair of;rollers;,|81

spaced by a frame fork |89 and. also under the t urge-of a` frame spring.|9 0.;1Rollers|81 .are positioned-to contact and bridgea linger pairofaicarriage` half on one sideof the machine, so that, the pantographframe-,|85 willbe moved away from the. central vertical plane Vofthemachine Whenone rollergrides up on the advancingfinger of a fingerpair.The frame will move toward the central-verticalplane-of the machineUvafter, the rollers ,have bridgedua-lingerV pairs:1 The pantographframe-|85 is thus ;cammedj laterally by roller Contact Withthadvancing-angered each-'carriage half on the Pantoeraph trame-,side 0ftnemaclline.-.,

The pantograph frame. |85 comprises aninner armJ-Ql to which framefork-|89 isl attached, andean outwardly spaced arm |92 4ofparalleleXtent. Innerarm |9| at its lower end .ispivoted to a shortpivot-,boss |94 on the cross plate-1 and thefouter arm |92 is pivoted ona longer pivot-lug ,|95 on crossjplate 1. The top endsof the innemendouter arms-ISI and .1.92, respectively, are pivoted .l to an ejectionplate-.arm HJG-to which-is attached an ejection plate |91 facing .theAopposites-side of the machine and -having fore-andaft vertical flanges|99. -The pantographlrame .|85 -is .ad-

justedv to give-the ejection plate |91 a. substantially horizontal.motion when a roller |81 lirst ..4 contacts afinger andrides `towardthe linger junction. Afterthe ngerfjunction is passed-the 3 5 rollerspermit movement of ,the pantograph. frame.

|85 inwardly-toward- .the .central verticalplane VP' of the machines.

This movement.- causes ejection plate. |91 to move across the`restraintspace between .thefinger pairs-and. is. timedto ftake.placewhen.; the.. probe.;

| has reached :its highest-.pointwhemcarrying. a peach upwardlyintherestraintspace.- -,.At this'. time-and in .thisposition; .the peach is:contacted 1.-.

by thenwardly movingejectionplate |91 and is. forced laterally pastthecentral vertical planeof.

the machine into an oppositedischargechute-2 00 whichis also pivoted tocross plate 1, andprovided withspacedrollers |81 similar to thoseattached.`

to the pantograph frame. The peach! rolls .down-Ur chute 200 interalongitudinal discharge, channel 20|., which extends to the end of themachine y frame as shown `:best in Figure 1.

Thus-any peachesnot Aproperly orientated both-'- as to indent-and:seam-positionare removed.freni-.- the machine-beforereaching thesawing-stage follow.

As peaches which are properly orientated ,are not liftedby the probe,the ejectionplate |911, -in

moving. across-V the restraint space does-,not Vdisf-f turb.;A s uch aproperly orientated `peach-below:it.:.4 Thesegpeachesremain -in the,carriagesto enten the sawing-stage.;- Y

On the downward strokeof .the probe slidel 82,?-

the main body.` member. 12 contacts.. the bottom. of a,po sitioningbracket 20|- attached toone probe block bracket |10, so that the rockingpawll! will always be returned -to its outward positiont the end of thestroke.-

Sawing stage D-E Afterthe carriages-leaves the nspectionstage, 1 C-Donlythose peaches remain in the carriages which havek their.y lndents downand...whichfalso.

have their-seamY plane in Vthe central :vertical plane of the machine.-These1peaches, as faras position is, concerned, are now ready forsawingl but are only loosely held in the carriages. .i In order thatthey 'maybe grasped rmly b y oppositerngerpairs 25, -an unlocking cam205 on each side of the machine is held in the path of the lockinglevers32 on each carriage half, these cams-,2.05 being mounted on cambrackets-206 erectedi-romcross plates 1 between the two chain barsgfand`li, as shown in Figures l, 2, and 18,

andere postioned--to unlock the carriage halves justbefQre-thesecarriage halves leave the rollers |81 attached to the vpantograph frame|85 and to chut e 20 0.'` A s the carriage halves pass the unlocking,Ycams 20,5,x'the locking levers 32 are dee pressed` to u nlockthe ribbedarms 22 and these.I

armspand the attached linger pairs, fall by gravif. ty andnnderthe urgeof roller 81 toward the central-,plane lof the machine and against Athei: peach between-.the finger pairs, each nger pair stopping when contactwith the peach is made.- 1 The peach is centralizedby the linger pairswhich-A are l.in this position-linked together through 4rollersll on thepantograph frame |85 and chute 200, vthe lattertwo elements being linkedthrought, horizontal-levers XISI'and-XZUU respectively,the v inner endsof the latter levers being.- connected by vertical link X300, as shownin Figure 14. After this happens, locking levers 32 pass off unlockingcams, 205 and the ringer pairs are locked against the peach.. Thus, thepeach is rmly grasped b etween the linger pairs, with the seam plane inor very close to the central vertical plane VP of the machine.

past a central, vertically positioned circular halving saw 299 driven bya saw motor ,2|0 mounted above the machine on sawmotor brackets v2|extended ,from the frame of the machine.

plane VP and asr the peaches are moved past the saw, the peaches are cutin half. As the plane of the saw coincides with the seam or suture planeof the peach being sawed, each half of the peach will be substantiallyidentical.

Peach half separation stage E-F plates by a linger pair as the carriagesprogress.

The splitter plates are best shown in Figures -1 and 2..

As .the carriage halves-start downwardly around the angularly positioned.drive sprockets` 9 the splitter plates 2| 2 flare outwardly and turn inplane,4 following -the path ofthe linger pairs, so

thatthe peach halves are pressedby the linger pairs against the splitterplates .over vthe entire-V course of the splitter plates.. To preventthe peach halves from changing position with respect to the splitter`plates on which .they are riding,- the splitter plates are providedwith-ridges 2|4 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As the flower horizontal path of the carriage halvesiis reached-theisplitterfplates 2|2 have l .;been.ftwlsteda-zinto .a horizontaleplanewith the.;

After the peach has been grasped and the car- Y riage halves locked, thepeaches are progressed The 2 plane of the saw 200 is in the centralvertical peach halves held on the top thereof by the nger pairs as shownin Figure 18. In this position the peach halves are ready for pitremoval, and are sufficiently far apart laterally so that the pittingdrive mechanism can be placed between the splitter plates. The pithalves are then -cut out by a pitting mechanism in a pitting stage.

Fitting stage F-G The pitting mechanism operating on the peach halves toremove the pit halves is best shown in Figures 18 and 19.

Extending outwardly fronreach side-of gear box I I, which is locatedbetween the lowerchain bars 6 and below the saw 209, is a pitting knifesleeve 12|4 rotatable in the side wall 2I5V ofthe gear box I| in asleeve bearing 2| S. Adjacent the outer end of each sleeve 2I4 is apitting knife 2I'l having parallel ends 2|9 attached to a vcurved blade22e which describes a radius with the center located at theintersectionvof-the axis of the wobble pin with the axis of .the shaft 224 and whichis the general contourcf aV half pit. Fitting. knife 2|'I is attached byends 2I5 to a knife bearing 22| in which a wobble pin V222 extended froma wobble shaft 224 is rotatable. The wobble shafts 224 from each knifeextend inwardly through vsleeves 2 I4 to join at acentral pinion 225within the gearbox I I, this pinion 225 being rotated at high speed bymating gear 225a mounted on longitudinal shaft 5l.

Sleeves2|4 terminate outwardly in sleeve slots 22 in which the inner end2|9 of thel pitting knife and the knife bearing 22| are held,

The wobble pin 222 extends at an angle from one side of the end of eachwobble shaft 224, crossing the axis of the wobble shaft 22,4 aboutmidway of the extent of the Ywobble pin, this crossing beinerpositioned,substantially belowthe center of theline of peach pit travelover the splitter plates.` Rotation of the wobble pins 222 by shafts 224does not rotate the pitting, knife 2|'I, as the latter are restrained bythe sleeve slots 226, but merely oscillate the knives rapidly.

In order that the pitting knives 2|] be 'rotated over a path where theywill passaround a peach pit half in a peach half, Aeach sleeve 2|4 isinwardly joined by a bridge 221 extended over and around the centralpinion 225 so that both sleeves 2I4 can be reciprocated by sleeve rod228 through a sleeve arm 229. Sleeve rod229 is driven by connection toan eccentric cam in the gear kbox I I as will be described later.

If all peach halves were to be of substantially the same size, thepitting knife sleeves 2I4 could be solidly positioned.Y However, aspointed out above, it may be desirable for the machine to processungraded fruit, in which case the halves presented for pitting may varysubstantially in size. Thus, with the Vertical position of the pittingblade fixed with relation to the plane of the cut surface of the peach,reciprocationrof4 a pitting knife 2 II over a xed arc passing through apeach half, could take too large a cut out of a small peach half, andtoo small a cut togproperly remove the pit half from a large peach half.Consequently, I prefer to position the pitting knife `2I'| vertically inaccordance with the size of the fruit half being presented for pitremoval.

In order that the pitting knives can be moved vertically, the sleeves 2I4 are each provided with a hinge 230 adjacent the side wall 2I5 of gearbox II on the outside thereof so' that the outer ends of the sleeveslcan be moved vertically. Inside the hinges the wobble shafts 224 areeach 18 provided with a flexible joint 23| so that these wobble shaftscan be continuously rotated when the vertical position of pitting knives2|'| is changed The vertical position of pitting knives 2I'I in eachcase i's controlled by a ro-ller 232 which is rotatably supported on abell crank 234 rotatable on a bell crank bracket 235 positionedoutwardly from each pitting knife 2|'| and attached to gear box base236. Each roller 232 bears against the junction of the two fingers oneach finger pair 25 of 4each carriage half as the latter pass by. Thisjunction reflects the thickness o-f the peach half, as the finger pairswere moved into peach surface contact just .prior to the sawingoperation, as explained above. On each side, the end of bell crank 234opposite roller 232 is connected by a link 23T to a sleeve extension24|. A stop 242 prevents each sleeve 214 from dropping below a minimumvertical position, between contacts of rollers 232 with the carriagehalves.

In operation, each pitting knife remainssubstantially horizontal withcurved blade 220 just below a splitter plate 2I2, each of which at thisposition is cut away with a blade slot 244 therein to permitreciprocation of the curved blade'22l over an arc passing around a pithalf in a peach half being progressed alo-ng a splitter plate 212 by acarriage half.

As a peach half approaches the pitting position, each sleeve 2|4 isrotated by movement of sleeve arm 229 to move the pitting blade'upwardly and in the direction of the moving peach half. At the sametime each sleeve 2|4 is raised by roller 232 contacting the carriagehalf so that as the curved blade 220 of the pitting knife 2I'I reachesits top-most position, as shown in Figure 18 (left), the blade will beabove the pit, but not so far above as to remove too great a proportionof each meat along with the pit.

Reciprocation of the knife continues with the blade moving with thepeach half as the peach half progresses, until the blade swings againbelow the level of the splitter plate 2I2, after having passedcompletely around the pit half, which then drops out of the peach. Thepitted peach half then continues on the splitter plateuntil past thedischarge point of the pits and then the splitter plates terminate,permitting the pitted peach halves to drop on an output belt 245, forexample. It is to be noted that both the blade 22|] and the peach halfare travelling in the same direction, but that the center of rotation ofblade 220 is well below the splitter plate 2|2. This position of thecenter of rotation of the blade 220 permits the blade to travel fasterthan the peach half and provides a pitting cut in the peach which is ofa substantially smaller radius than the radius of rotation of blade 220.Furthermore, the additional vertical motion applied by roller 232 to theblade, produces a cut in the peach Which very closely approaches thecurvature of the outer surface of the peach pit half, thereby conservingmeat of the peach, substantially independently of the peach half size.The cut provided by the blade 22|] is adjusted to make a cut based onthe average relative size of the peach pit to the size of the peach.

It should also be noted that the continuous wobble or oscillationimparts a sawing action to the knife during'its'passage around the pit,which greatly aids in providing a clean'meat cut, and avoids tearing ofthe meat as might occur from` a direct pushing 'cut through thev fruit`meat, without blade oscillation.

19 It is further V`to be noted that the sleeves 2| 4 are held againstends 240 of cranks 239 only by gravity. If, for example, an roversizepit should possibly be encountered by a blade 220 as this blade startsacross the top of its are over the pit half, the blade Will climb thepit contour Vby the wobble action lifting'the sleeve away from itssupport as the blade passes over the top of the pit half, returning tothis support as soon as the blade has passed the peak of its arc. In

this manner, oversized pits areprevented from being bodily torn out ofthe peach half, spoiling 'the shape ofthe remaining meat.

Gear bom The following members are driven from the gear box I Theprobeblock |66. The seam orientation block |05. -The vertical slide I6.The probe'slide |82. TheV longitudinal shaft'51. The two chain drivesprockets 9.

7. The sleeve rod228. The star 4wheel 46, the pinion wire 94, and

Athe wobble shafts'224"are driven from the longitudinal shaft 51, whilethe'subeconveyor chainv 11 Kis driven'by pins |00 attache'dto rollerchains 10, as hereinbefore described.

Themain elements of 'gear box are shown in Figures and 21.

Gearboxpulley |6 is attached to a main shaft Z50-extendinglaterallythrough the gear box back of Va parallel stub'shaft 25|. L250rotates one revolution for *one cycle of the machine, ire., for theprogression of each car- `ria'ge'the center to center distance of thespacing of thecarriage halves on the main chains Main shaft l0. Stubshaft is a 1/2 cycle shaft, being driven from vmain shaft 250 by spurgears 252 proportioned to provide the desired speed reduction.

'On each side of stub shaft 25| is positioned two pairs ofcams,`apairof'block reciprocating cams 254, and alpair of'verticalslidecams 255. One -cam'of each pair isthe reciproca1 of the other camin'that pair, so*that cam followers can be givena positive drive -inboth directions.

Immediately below stub shaft25l, with their `axes inalignment, are apair of separate cam follower shafts, ablock reciprocatingshaft 256`positioned below `the block reciprocating cams 254and a vertical slideshaft 251 below'vertical slide cams '255. Each of the shafts256 and`251extends through the side wall of the gear-box,

.andare supported inwardly'by end bearings-25S 'and 260, respectively.

The block reciprocating' shaft-,256 carries an upwardly 'extendingreciprocatingcam follower Vyoke 26| `having a follower roller .262oneach end thereof, one of these rollers contacting each cam of the pairof block reciprocating cams 1255.

In "a likemanner, the vertical slide shaft 251 carries an upwardlyextending vertical slidecam follower yoke 264, the ends of which carrycam rollers 265, one bearing on each vertical slide cam 255. Thus thetwo shafts 2'56 and 251 are oscillated in accordance with the respectivecam contours.

On the outside of gear box the block reciprocating shaft 256 isconnected to a block reciprocating lever 266 which extends rearwardly,upwardly, and inwardly to terminate close to the central vertical planeVP of the'machine just below Athe carriages. At this upper point, lever266is connected to the orientation 'block |05 through the reciprocatingpower rod |61. The cams '254 are designed to move the blocks with thecarriages'at carriage speedfor 11/2 cycles of the machine proper,returning .the blocks in l/2 cycle.

'On the other side of the gear box, the vertical slide shaft '251 isconnected toa forwardly extending vertical shaft lever 261,.the forwardend of'which is connected to the lower end of the .downwardly "extendingsliderod ||1 shown in Figures 2 and 9. The vertical slide cams raise thevertical slide of the'seam orientation stage rapidly, hold the slideupuntil the end of the seam block travel and then drop the slide. Theshape 'of cams 255 is shown in Figure 21a.

Mounted'on main yshaft `250, alongside the shaft spur gear, is aninspection pair of cams To the rear of the inspection cam 269 is a probeshaft 210 extending outside of gear box to which is attached a probeyoke 21| having probe yoke rollers 212 on the ends thereof. Rollers 212'contact opposite inspection cams for positive drive of probe drive shaft210. Outside of gear box a forwardly extending probe slide lever'214 isattached at one end to probe shaft '210 and at the other end to theprobeslide rod |84 so that the probe slide is reciprocated from 'its lowpoint toits high point once for each reciprocation of theprobe block|66.

Longitudinal shaft 51 is driven at twice the speed ofmain shaft 250"through bevel gears 2'15 one of which is attachedto the end oflongitudinal shaft 51, the other gear 215 being attached to an idlershaft 216. Idler shaft 216 is driven from main shaft spur .gear 252through idler shaft pinion 211.

The chain drive sprockets 9 are mounted on angularly positioned ,gearl.box plates 219 by sprocket shafts 280 passed through sprocket shaftbearings 28| formed in plates 2'19. Sprocket shafts 280 terminateinwardly in sprocket bevelrgears 282 which mesh with stub shaft bevelVgears 284,7one on each end of the stub shaft .25|.

4shown'in Figures' 21a and 18. Mounted on shaft 250 directly inback ofcams 269 is another pair :of cams to operate a duplicate shaft directlyin back of the shaft 210. This duplicate shaft is :secured .to the lever|61X (also shown in Figure 21a) which is linked'by the rod |61 to theprobe kblock |66 tolgive the latter the desired reciproca* Ytionasbefore idescribed.

